Go with the system you can build yourself. If that means a simple ebb and flow, sure, works great. Coco can be used in virtually any growing system.
Theres a million DIY guides and videos on the net, watch until your eyes bleed than decide on a custom system thats right for you.
FYI: Aerophonics are the best of the best when it comes to any type of growing system, and they are just as simple as any other system. After you build and use one you'll be in a wonderful position to create an even better one, with more growing chambers, better root management, bigger sprayers to avoid clogs. Point being, you should go for the best. PH, EC(PPM), correct nutrient mixtures are not rocket science, and will teach you as you go.
As far as price, if you're building your system yourself, which you should,(unless you're doing a commercial product with investor relations to manage and such, you are not.) it'll all come out around the same, unless looking at the extremely cheap soil options V the most expensive active-hydro systems.
Anyways, yes, I do think that if you are not using a at-least simi-automated system you should be, there are simple things you can do to greatly increase yield and quality(the name of the game, no?) and you will learn them very quickly. As you can probably already attest to after your first two grows.
Rambling there a bit so I'll cut it off here, GL